Non-invasive detection of fetal genetic traits

ABSTRACT

Blood plasma of pregnant women contains fetal and (generally&gt;90%) maternal circulatory extracellular DNA. Most of said fetal DNA contains ≦500 base pairs, said maternal DNA having a greater size. Separation of circulatory extracellular DNA of &lt;500 base pairs results in separation of fetal from maternal DNA. A fraction of a blood plasma or serum sample of a pregnant woman containing, due to size separation (e.g. by chromatography, density gradient centrifugation or nanotechnological methods), extracellular DNA substantially comprising ≦500 base pairs is useful for non-invasive detection of fetal genetic traits (including the fetal RhD gene in pregnancies at risk for HDN; fetal Y chromosome-specific sequences in pregnancies at risk for X chromosome-linked disorders; chromosomal aberrations; hereditary Mendelian genetic disorders and corresponding genetic markers; and traits decisive for paternity determination) by e.g. PCR, ligand chain reaction or probe hybridization techniques, or nucleic acid arrays.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The presence of circulatory extracellular DNA in the peripheral blood is a well established phenomenon. In this context, it has been shown that in the case of a pregnant woman extracellular fetal DNA is present in the maternal circulation and can be detected in maternal plasma or serum. Studies have shown that this circulatory fetal genetic material can be used for the very reliable determination, e.g. by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology, of fetal genetic loci which are completely absent from the maternal genome. Examples of such fetal genetic loci are the fetal RhD gene in pregnancies at risk for HDN (hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn) or fetal Y chromosome-specific sequences in pregnancies at risk for an X chromosome-linked disorder e.g. hemophilia or fragile X syndrome.

The determination of other, more complex fetal genetic loci (e.g. chromosomal aberrations such as aneuploidies or chromosomal aberrations associated with Down's syndrome, or hereditary Mendelian genetic disorders and, respectively, genetic markers associated therewith, such as single gene disorders, e.g. cystic fibrosis or the hemoglobinopathies) is, however, more problematic. The reason for this difficulty is that the major proportion (generally>90%) of the extracellular DNA in the maternal circulation is derived from the mother. This vast bulk of maternal circulatory extracellular DNA renders it difficult, if not impossible, to determine fetal genetic alternations such as those involved in chromosomal aberrations (e.g. aneuploidies) or hereditary Mendelian genetic disorders (e.g. cystic fibrosis or the hemoglobinopathies) from the small amount of circulatory extracellular fetal DNA.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An examination of circulatory extracellular fetal DNA and circulatory extracellular maternal DNA in maternal plasma has now shown that, surprisingly, the majority of the circulatory extracellular fetal DNA has a relatively small size of approximately 500 base pairs or less, whereas the majority of circulatory extracellular maternal DNA in maternal plasma has a size greater than approximately 500 base pairs. Indeed, in certain instances the circulatory DNA material which is smaller than approximately 500 base pairs appears to be almost entirely fetal. Circulatory extracellular fetal DNA in the maternal circulation has thus been found to be smaller in size (approximately 500 base pairs or less) than circulatory extracellular maternal DNA (greater than approximately 500 base pairs).

This surprising finding forms the basis of the present invention according to which separation of circulatory extracellular DNA fragments which are smaller than approximately 500 base pairs provides a possibility to enrich for fetal DNA sequences from the vast bulk of circulatory extracellular maternal DNA.

This selective enrichment, which is based on size discrimination of circulatory DNA fragments of approximately 500 base pairs or less, leads to a fraction which is largely constituted by fetal extracellular DNA. This permits the analysis of fetal genetic traits including those involved in chromosomal aberrations (e.g. aneuploidies or chromosomal aberrations associated with Down's syndrome) or hereditary Mendelian genetic disorders and, respectively, genetic markers associated therewith (e.g. single gene disorders such as cystic fibrosis or the hemoglobinopathies), the determination of which had, as mentioned above, so far proved difficult, if not impossible. Size separation of extracellular fetal DNA in the maternal circulation thus facilitates the non-invasive detection of fetal genetic traits, including paternally inherited polymorphisms which permit paternity testing.

Clinical Chemistry, 1999, Vol. 45(9), pages 1570-1572 and The Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, February 2003 (O₂-2003), Vol. 43(1), pages 10-15 describe a sample of blood plasma of a pregnant woman in which extracellular fetal DNA of less than 500 base pairs is enriched by PCR, is separated by gel electrophoresis and fetal male DNA (fetal Y-chromosome-specific sequence) is detected.

The present invention provides

-   -   a fraction of a sample of the blood plasma or serum (which         preferably is substantially cell-free) of a pregnant woman in         which, as the result of said sample having been submitted to a         size separation, the extracellular DNA present therein         substantially consists of DNA comprising 500 base pairs or less;     -   the use of such sample-fraction for the non-invasive detection         of fetal genetic traits; and     -   a process for performing non-invasive detection of fetal genetic         traits which comprises subjecting a sample of the blood plasma         or serum of a pregnant woman to a size separation so as to         obtain a fraction of said sample in which the extracellular DNA         present therein substantially consists of DNA comprising 500         base pairs or less, and determining in said sample-fraction the         fetal genetic trait(s) to be detected.

Said serum or plasma sample is preferably substantially cell-free, and this can be achieved by known methods such as, for example, centrifugation or sterile filtration.

The size separation of the extracellular DNA in said serum or plasma sample can be brought about by a variety of methods, including but not limited to

-   -   chromatography or electrophoresis such as chromatography on         agarose or polyacrylamide gels, ion-pair reversed-phase high         performance liquid chromatography (IP RP HPLC, see Hecker K H,         Green S M, Kobayashi K, J. Biochem. Biophys. Methods 2000 Nov.         20; 46(1-2): 83-93), capillary electrophoresis in a         self-coating, low-viscosity polymer matrix (see Du M, Flanagan J         H Jr, Lin B, Ma Y, Electrophoresis 2003 September; 24 (18):         3147-53), selective extraction in microfabricated         electrophoresis devices (see Lin R, Burke D T, Burn M A, J.         Chromatogr. A. 2003 Aug. 29; 1010(2): 255-68), microchip         electrophoresis on reduced viscosity polymer matrices (see Xu F,         Jabasini M, Liu S, Baba Y, Analyst. 2003 June; 128(6): 589-92),         adsorptive membrane chromatography (see Teeters M A, Conrardy S         E, Thomas B L, Root T W, Lightfoot E N, J. Chromatogr. A. 2003         Mar. 7; 989(1): 165-73) and the like;     -   density gradient centrifugation (see Raptis L, Menard H A, J.         Clin. Invest. 1980 December; 66(6): 1391-9); and     -   methods utilising nanotechnological means such as         microfabricated entropic trap arrays (see Han J, Craighead H G,         Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 74, No. 2, Jan. 15, 2002) and the         like.

The sample-fraction thus obtained not only permits the subsequent determination of fetal genetic traits which had already been easily detectable in a conventional manner such as the fetal RhD gene in pregnancies at risk for HDN (hemolytic disease of the fetus and the newborn), or fetal Y chromosome-specific sequences in pregnancies at risk for an X chromosome-linked disorder such as hemophilia, fragile X syndrome or the like, but also the determination of other, more complex fetal genetic loci, including but not limited to

-   -   chromosomal aberrations (e.g aneuploidies or Down's syndrome) or         hereditary Mendelian genetic disorders and, respectively,         genetic markers associated therewith (e.g. single gene disorders         such as cystic fibrosis or the hemoglobinopathies); and         -   fetal genetic traits which may be decisive when paternity is             to be determined.

Such determination of fetal genetic traits can be effected by methods such as, for example, PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology, ligase chain reaction, probe hybridisation techniques, nucleic acid arrays (so-called “DNA chips”) and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following Examples are further illustrating the invention but are not to be construed as limitating its scope in any way.

EXAMPLE 1 Detection of Male Fetal DNA in Maternal Plasma by Real-Time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) After Size Fractionation of DNA by Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

Materials and Methods

Subjects and Sample Processing

Seven women pregnant in the third trimester with a male fetus were recruited for this study. 16-18 ml blood samples were collected into EDTA tubes. 6-9 ml of plasma were obtained after centrifugation at 1600 g for 10 minutes and a second centrifugation of the supernatant at 16000 g for 10 minutes.

DNA Isolation

DNA from 5-7 ml plasma was extracted using the QIAgen Maxi kit, according to the manufacturers' protocol. DNA was eluted in a volume of 1.5 ml.

DNA Precipitation

-   1. To the plasma DNA were added: 1/10 volume NaAc (3M, pH 5.2), 2     volumes absolute ethanol, MgCl₂ to a final concentration of 0.01 M     and Glycogen to a final concentration of 50 μg/ml. The solution was     thoroughly mixed by vortexing. -   2. The solution was stored overnight at −70° C. -   3. The DNA was recovered by centrifugation at 20000 g for 30 minutes     at 4° C. -   4. The supernatant was carefully removed and the pellet washed with     500 μl 70% ethanol. -   5. The pellet was air dried and dissolved in 35 μl distilled water.

DNA Separation

-   1. A 1% agarose Gel (Invitrogen, Cat No: 15510-027) was prepared for     DNA electrophoresis. -   2. 28 μl DNA solution were loaded on the gel. -   3. The gel was electrophoresed at 80 Volt for 1 hour. -   4. The Gel was cut into pieces corresponding to specific DNA sizes     according to the DNA size markers (New England Biolabs, 100 bp     ladder and Lamda Hind III digest). The DNA sizes contained by the     specific gel fragments were: 90-300 bases, 300-500 bases, 500-1000     bases, 1.0-1.5 kilobases (“kb”), 1.5-23 kb and >23 kb. -   5. The DNA was purified from the agarose gel pieces using the QIAEX     II Gel Extraction kit (Qiagen, Cat No. 20021) and eluted in 35 μl     Tris-HCl (pH 8.0, 10 mM).

Real-Time PCR

Sequences from the Y chromosome (SRY) and from chromosome 12 (GAPDH gene) were amplified with the Applied Biosystems (ABI) 7000 Sequence Detection System by real-time quantitative PCR to quantify amounts of fetal and total DNA in the size-separated fractions. The TaqMan system for SRY consisted of the amplification primers SRY_Fwd: TCC TCA AAA GAA ACC GTG CAT and SRY_Rev: AGA TTA ATG GTT GCT AAG GAC TGG AT and a FAM labeled TaqMan MGB (Minor Groove Binder) probe SRY_MGB: TCC CCA CAA CCT CTT. The TaqMan System for the GAPDH gene consisted of the following primers and probe: GAPDH_Fwd: CCC CAC ACA CAT GCA CTT ACC, GAPDH_Rev: CCT AGT CCC AGG GCT TTG ATT and GAPDH_MGB: TAG GAA GGA CAG GCA AC.

TaqMan amplification reactions were set up in a total reaction volume of 25 μl, containing 6 μl of the sample DNA solution, 300 nM of each primer (HPLC purified, Mycrosynth, Switzerland) and 200 nM of each probe (ABI) at 1× concentration of the Universal PCR reaction mix (ABI). Each sample was analyzed in duplicate for each of the two amplification systems. A standard curve containing known amounts of genomic DNA was run in parallel with each analysis.

Thermal cycling was performed according to the following protocol: An initial incubation at 50° C. for 2 minutes to permit Amp Erase activity, 10 minutes at 95° C. for activation of AmpliTaq Gold, and 40 cycles of 1 minute at 60° C. and 15 seconds at 95° C.

Amplification data collected by the 7000 Sequence Detection System was quantified using the slope of the standard curve as calculated by the sequence detection software and the results of a standard DNA solution used in the dilution curve with similar DNA copy numbers as the sample reactions as a reference sample for copy number calculations.

Results

Table 1 shows that in the five pregnancies examined, DNA fragments originating from the fetus were almost completely of sizes smaller than 500 base pairs with around 70% being of fetal origin for sizes smaller than 300 bases.

These results demonstrate that free DNA of fetal origin circulating in the maternal circulation can be specifically enriched by size separation of the total free DNA in the maternal blood. Depending on the downstream application the DNA size chosen for the enrichment of fetal DNA will be smaller than 300 or smaller than 500 bases. TABLE 1 % of fetal DNA % of maternal DNA Size of DNA in each fragment in each fragment <0.3 kb  73.2 (22.22-87.06)  26.8 (12.94-77.78) 0.3-0.5 kb 18.95 (6.43-31.42) 81.05 (68.58-93.57) 0.5-1 kb  2.81 (0.00-7.75) 97.19 (92.25-100) 1.0-1.5 kB  0.00 (0.00-12.50)   100 (87.5-100) 1.5-23 kb  0.00 (0.00-8.40)   100 (100-100) The abbreviation “kb” appearing in the first column of this table stands for 1000 base pairs, and the figures given in its second and the third column are the median values ofthe percentages and, in brackets, the ranges.

EXAMPLE 2 Detection of Fetal DNA After Agarose Gel Electrophoresis by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of Microsatellite Markers, also Called “Short Tandem Repeats” (STRs)

Materials and Methods

Subjects and Samples

18 ml blood samples from pregnant women and 9 ml blood from their partners were collected into EDTA tubes and plasma separated by centrifugation as described in example 1. The maternal buffy coat (i.e. the white colored top layer of the cell pellet obtained after the first centrifugation of 1600 g for 10 min.) was washed twice with PBS.

DNA Isolation

DNA from the plasma was extracted using a modification of the High Pure DNA template kit from Roche, the whole sample was passed through the filter usually used for 200 μl using a vacuum. The DNA was eluted in a volume of 50 μl elution buffer.

Paternal DNA was extracted from 400 μl paternal whole blood, using the High Pure DNA template kit, and eluted into 100 μl. Maternal DNA was isolated from the buffy coat, using the High Pure DNA template kit, and eluted into 100 μl.

DNA Separation

The DNA was size-separated by electrophoresis on an agarose gel and purified as described in Example 1.

PCR Specific for Short Tandem Repeats

From the fraction of sizes smaller than 500 bases, sequences from tetranucleotide repeat markers on Chromosome 21 were amplified in a multiplex PCR reaction as described in Li et al. Clinical Chemistry 49, No. 4, 2003. Because of the low concentration of plasma DNA, the fetal DNA in maternal plasma was examined by using a semi-nested PCR protocol.

The maternal and paternal pairs were genotyped using total genomic DNA to monitor microsatellite markers on chromosome 21.

The STR markers used were:

-   -   D211 S11;     -   D21S1270;     -   D21S1432; and     -   D21S1435

The resulting DNA fragments were then size separated by capillary electrophoresis on a sequencer, and the peak areas representing each allele for a specific marker were measured by the software.

Results TABLE 2 Detection of fetal alleles specific for the microsatellite marker (Short Tandem Repeat) D21S11 on chromosome 21 Maternal Fetal alleles alleles detected detected (D21S11) (D21S11) Maternal 232 bp N/A genomic DNA 234 bp Total 232 bp No fetal extracellulear DNA 234 bp alleles detectable (unseparated) Size-separated 232 bp 228 bp extracellular DNA 234 bp 232 bp (<300 bp) Size-weparated 232 bp 228 bp extracellular DNA 234 bp 232 bp (300-500 bp) Only in the size-separated fractions (<300 bp and 300-500 bp) could the feral alleles for D21S11 be detected, namely the paternally inherited 228 bp allele and the maternally inherited 232 bp allele, i.e. one allele from each parent.

Discussion

Analysis of the STR fragments can allow for the detection of paternal alleles that are distinct in length from the maternal repeat sequences, and by calculating the ratios between the peak areas it can be possible to identify patterns that are not consistent with a normal fetal karyotype. The identification of paternal allele sizes of STRs in the maternal circulation can allow the detection of certain chromosomal aberrations non-invasively. Also paternity testing can be accomplished prenatal in a non-invasive manner. 

1. A fraction of a sample of the blood plasma or serum of a pregnant woman in which, as the result of said sample having been submitted to a size separation, the extracellular DNA present therein substantially consists of DNA comprising 500 base pairs or less.
 2. A sample-fraction according to claim 1 which is substantially cell-free.
 3. A sample-fraction according to claim 1, wherein the size separation was carried out by chromatography or electrophoresis, by density gradient centrifugation or by methods utilising nanotechnological means.
 4. A sample-fraction according to claim 3, wherein the chromatography and, respectively, electrophoresis was chromatography on agarose or polyacrylamide gels, ion-pair reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (IP RP HPLC), capillary electrophoresis in a self-coating, low-viscosity polymer matrix, selective extraction in microfabricated electrophoresis devices, microchip electrophoresis on reduced viscosity polymer matrices or adsorptive membrane chromatography.
 5. A sample-fraction according to claim 3, wherein the method utilizing nanotechnological means was making use of microfabricated entropic trap arrays.
 6. The use of a sample-fraction according to claim 1 for the non-invasive detection of fetal genetic traits.
 7. The use according to claim 6, wherein the fetal genetic trait to be detected is the fetal RhD gene in a pregnancy at risk for HDN (hemolytic disease of the fetus and the newborn) or a fetal Y chromosome-specific sequence in a pregnancy at risk for an X chromosome-linked disorder.
 8. The use according to claim 6, wherein the fetal genetic trait to be detected is a chromosomal aberration, a hereditary Mendelian genetic disorder and, respectively, a genetic marker associated therewith, or a fetal genetic trait which may be decisive when paternity is to be determined.
 9. The use according to claim 7, wherein the X chromosome-linked disorder is hemophilia or fragile X syndrome.
 10. The use according to claim 8, wherein the chromosomal aberration is an aneuploidy.
 11. The use according to claim 8, wherein the chromosomal aberration is associated with Down's syndrome.
 12. The use according to claim 8, wherein the hereditary Mendelian genetic disorder is a single gene disorder.
 13. The use according to claim 12, wherein the single gene disorder is cystic fibrosis or a hemoglobinopathy.
 14. The use according to claim 6, wherein the detection of the fetal genetic traits is carried out by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology, ligand chain reaction or probe hybridisation techniques or by means of nucleic acid arrays.
 15. A process for performing non-invasive detection of fetal genetic traits which comprises subjecting a sample of the blood plasma or serum of a pregnant woman to a size separation so as to obtain a fraction of said sample in which the extracellular DNA present therein substantially consists of DNA comprising 500 base pairs or less, and determining the fetal genetic trait(s) to be detected by submitting such fraction to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology, ligase chain reaction or probe hybridisation techniques, or to nucleic acid arrays.
 16. A process according to claim 15, wherein the fetal genetic trait to be detected is the fetal RhD gene in a pregnancy at risk for HDN (hemolytic disease of the fetus and the newborn) or a fetal Y chromosome-specific sequence in a pregnancy at risk for an X chromosome-linked disorder.
 17. A process according to claim 15, wherein the fetal genetic trait to be detected is a chromosomal aberration, a hereditary Mendelian genetic disorder and, respectively, a genetic marker associated therewith, or a fetal genetic trait which may be decisive when paternity is to be determined.
 18. A process according to claim 16, wherein the X chromosome-linked disorder is hemophilia or fragile X syndrome.
 19. A process according to claim 17, wherein the chromosomal aberration is an aneuploidy.
 20. A process according to claim 17, wherein the chromosomal aberration is associated with Down's syndrome.
 21. A process according to claim 17, wherein the hereditary Mendelian genetic disorder is a single gene disorder.
 22. A process according to claim 21, wherein the single gene disorder is cystic fibrosis or a hemoglobinopathy. 